Matthew Phelps

Matthew Phelps serves as a secondary procurement liaison at the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, supporting the U.S. Department of Transportation’s mission to advance transportation safety and innovation through technical acquisition management. While not a primary contracting officer, he plays a critical role in facilitating the procurement lifecycle for research-driven contracts, particularly those involving engineering services, transportation systems R&D, and rail infrastructure modernization. His responsibilities include coordinating requirements development, vendor engagement, and contract administration to ensure alignment with federal acquisition regulations and agency technical priorities. He routinely handles complex, performance-based acquisitions for analytical platforms, software development, and specialized engineering support tied to automated driving systems and rail equipment lifecycle management. Phelps maintains a consistent working relationship with EBENEZER RAILCAR SERVICES, INC., a key vendor providing specialized railcar maintenance and retrofitting services. His procurement patterns reflect a preference for long-term, mission-aligned partnerships with niche technical contractors capable of delivering tailored solutions for federal transportation infrastructure. He engages primarily with firms possessing domain-specific expertise in rail systems, data analytics, and transportation engineering, fostering collaborative relationships grounded in technical compliance and performance accountability. His contracting portfolio reflects a strong emphasis on small business participation, with 36.1% of awards structured as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. While no other socioeconomic set-asides dominate, his pattern demonstrates deliberate inclusion of small businesses capable of delivering engineering and R&D services, aligning with Volpe’s mission to leverage innovative capacity across the small business ecosystem. Phelps primarily supports acquisitions under NAICS 541330 (Engineering Services) and 541715 (Research and Development in Physical Sciences), with secondary focus on 336510 (Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing) and 238220 (Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors). His work centers on procuring advanced technical services for intelligent transportation systems, rail safety analytics, and infrastructure software platforms, requiring deep domain expertise in transportation engineering and systems integration.